Hello. My 16 year old grand daughter and I (age 65 but not as fast as I used to be ) will be heading to London in June. We have two days, then off to Africa and back for four full days in London again.
What I want to know is what you think is the best use of our limited time. I have been a few times but this is her first time to Europe period. We have talked about what she wants to do, and she is open to suggestions but we have settled on a few things which I shall mention.
We arrive on a Saturday morning , hoping to get some sleep on the plane, and just do the Mega Bus tour I think to give her an over view. I have booked tickets for Les Miserables that night. I am hoping to maybe squeeze one more short thing in that day. Bus picks up near our hotel which is close to Hyde Park.

Sunday. We have all day to explore

Monday is fly day

Back again on Saturday after an overnight flight, arriving at 8AM but hopefully got some sleep. All day to explore
Sunday all day to explore ( so two Sundays to explore)

Monday we have a day trip to the Cotswolds organized
Tuesday all day and then Wicked tickets tonight.
Wednesday fly home.

So on our free days we definitely want to go to the V and A. one day and see the Christian Dior and other exhibits. I will buy the membership as I missed the tickets when on sale.

Any thought about at walking tour to see the changing of the guard?. Or should we save our money and do it ourself? I read that you actually get a better view and don't have to go so early if you take the tour.

The London Eye is on her list, but this is something we can do later in the day or evening when other things are closed. We will buy the fast track to save time.
National gallery for a shortish visit. I have never been and we both love art.

St Pauls maybe, but not on a Sunday.
Kensington Palace, or should we go to Windsor by train instead? I heard that Windsor is much more impressive, just not sure if we have time to squeeze this in. We both love the 'stately homes', unlike my boys who just wanted to see dungeons and torture chambers.

Tower of London maybe ( I have been, but with boys)
Westminster Abby maybe ( never been) ( closed Sundays)

I would like to go to Covent Garden and Camden.
I have been to the British museum a couple of times but I really don't think we have time for that .

I guess I am asking what of the above would be the best for a first timer?. I have always been with my boys and husband so this will be a new experience for me.

Thank you

First the bad news. >>I have booked tickets for Les Miserables that night<<

I know you've already booked but that is unfortunate I never EVER (well, did once) book theatre on my arrival day. In a stuffy theatre for 2.5 hours with jet lag can be torture -- even for a loud musical like Les Mis. The one time I ddi was years ago for Maggie Smith in the Lady in the Van - it was a sold out run and my arrival night was the only ticket I could get. I was in 2nd row stalls and even though it was Maggie bleedin' Smith and she was brilliant - I literally nodded off at least three times in the first act. I went outside for some air during the interval so was able to stay awake (barely) during Act 2. But it was deadly trying to keep from nodding off. Good luck with that . . .

>>Any thought about at walking tour to see the changing of the guard?<<

I sure wouldn't. The Guard Change is not that overly fantastic -- at least with the walking tour you aren't stuck for 3 hours just standing. Most of the walking tours time it just right and have you stand on Spur Rd just off Birdcage Walk so you aren't stuck by the fences.

Now some suggestions: >>Kensington Palace, or should we go to Windsor by train instead? I heard that Windsor is much more impressive, just not sure if we have time to squeeze this in. We both love the 'stately homes', unlike my boys who just wanted to see dungeons and torture chambers.<<

IF you have about half a day -- instead of Windsor I'd do Hampton Court Palace and skip Kens Palace.

For your 4 days I'd have this short list: Another play or musical, the Tower, the V&A/Dior, The National Gallery + the National Portrait Gallery + Covent Garden (all 3 are around the corner from each other), Hampton Court, the British Museum, Westminster Abbey. St Paul's if you can squeeze it in. Additional 'maybe's' - a street market, some shopping, a posh afternoon tea - maybe at the Wolseley or one of the up market hotels.

What a fun trip! Your granddaughter is a lucky young lady!

I would suggest high tea, shopping at some of the more quintessentially British stores, and wandering through some of the beautiful parks and gardens that London has offer. My kids loved just soaking in the atmosphere and sights walking around (we had good weather!). If she is interested in Shakespeare or studying it in school, we enjoyed touring the re-built Globe Theatre (there are shows offered as well, but it sounds like you have your theatre covered!)

>>I would suggest high tea afternoon tea<<

Really? You made your suggestion in your first post for afternoon tea. Just because people offer differing opinions than you doesn't mean you need to go through and cross them out, in addition to your unnecessary negative comments on the OP's already-purchased Les Miz tickets.

Yes -- Afternoon tea. I was going to explain it but historytravler beat me to it. What you had was not 'high tea'. We didn't have a difference of opinion at all. Just a correction of the terminology.

And I do not think my comments re the theatre tix are 'unnecessary'. If the OP has a heads up re the problem they can take steps - like only having a light meal before going - or getting a lot of fresh air first. It will be difficult.

Thanks All. Janis, i know. I have done this before and really do know better but did it anyhow. We booked tickets to a performance in St Petersburg in Russia on arrival day and woke up to the applause at the end. I am hoping that my G. Daughter will stay awake. I have already seen it. The next night is a Sunday so the theatre is dark. We really don't have much choice for seeing plays because I didnt plan well and we are there two Sundays...
I will look into Hampton Court instead of Kensington and maybe squeeze in Windsor as well, thank you.
I thought about afternoon tea at the V and A ?
We are both vegans so it may reduce our choices some what.
I appreciate all the feedback.
She thinks she is paying her half, her first job and doing a great deal of saving. In truth she is probably paying for a quarter. but never mind. I am proud of her for setting this goal and achieving it.

My thoughts would all be on jetlag for the first day, do not sit in an old bus trundling around the slow moving streets of London. Get out in the sunshine, go to Kew Gardens (there are a bunch of new glass statues there this summer and of course the main greenhouse was refurbished last year). Whether at 65 or 20 no one knows how exhaustion will kick in, so get out and about. I might even book an early evening walking tour near your hotel so you get to know your neighbourhood, if exhaustion kicks in you leave it early if not, fine. Theatre that night, crazy.

The other ideas are fine.

I’m not sure that the V&A offer a vegan afternoon tea but they may allow substitutes. I do know that both Fortum and Mason and the Oxo Tower serve a vegan menu.

BTW, have traveled with my granddaughter who is a bit younger and it’s been a great experience. I understand about the finances too. My granddaughter has been saving to pay her part for our trip to Greece this summer. We will be traveling as a family. She has saved a couple hundred dollars which is a big deal for a 12 year old but a pittance considering the cost of the trip. I love that she’s doing it and will see that her share is well spent.

If planning on visiting Westminister Abbey, do book tickets online to avoid long waits. You can attend any of the services without booking but will not be allowed to wander through the abbey church. I always make at least a short visit to the National Gallery. There is much to see so depending on your interest in the various art periods you may want to plan on staying a bit longer.

"High tea" isn't an expression that's commonly used in Britain except when it's mistakenly used for 'afternoon tea'. I've never heard it used to mean an afternoon meal, even if that's the textbook meaning. Some people will say just "tea" for their late afternoon meal but "high tea"??? Maybe very old people or regional niche, who knows? Certainly not in common usage so I don't suggest anyone try to use it to mean an afternoon meal. The English language evolves so perhaps it should just come to mean 'high class afternoon tea' since that (incorrect) usage is far more common than its textbook usage.

Similar to the term "public school" which many people wrongly think is the commonly used British equivalent of the American, "private school". It's really only used in modern times as part of a point about class and privilege. Tabloids still love it and it's somewhat pejorative in nature. E.g. "nah, that pub is always full of public school boys" or a headline like "Public schooled banker jailed for indecency". I've never heard anyone say "my child attends public school". It's just not commonly used like that.

Thursdaysd I will do that for sure. We will sleep for a couple of hours then head out. My husband and I just came back from a trip to Egypt and stopped in Athens. Our goal was to stay awake until 930PM, but had a 2 hour nap upon arrival in the morning and it worked out. I am hoping for the same results. I do like your suggestion biloburger maybe we won't do the bus trip that day but walk hyde park and area instead after our nap. Thanks all. Debbe.

So. Here is a questions I just found out that she can get out of school a day earlier if needed. We would arrive Friday Morning instead of Saturday morning. We could, instead of the theatre on Saturday night, take the train and go to the Royal Ascott, Queen Anne enclosure , for the Saturday. At great expense to me for changing the flight by a day, but I will most likely never get the chance to do this again. We would arrive London Friday morning, walk about and have a sleep in a bit and then the train Saturday for the day to Ascott. Pack our fascinators of course ( I own a few actually )

What do you think? Has anyone been? Is it worth the expense of changing the flights? Chance of a lifetime, or not worth the money?
Thanks for any feed back
Debbe.

I've been to Royal Ascot twice but the last time was over 25 years ago so things have probably changed a fair bit - though most of the traditions continue. It would likely be a great experience . . . for YOU. My concern would be just how much your granddaughter would enjoy it. Is she a fashion plate? Is she a big time Anglophile/'Royalty-phile'? Would she 'get' how exclusive it is? Would she care?

You know her - we don't. My guess the expense might not be worth it unless your DGD is mature for her years and in to those sorts of things.

Royal Ascot. I would say that it's an experience of a lifetime. I've been several times spread over many years but I don't know it well - i.e. there are different 'days' and they may differ in atmosphere.

I'm not saying that this is a reason not to go unless you're particularly sensitive to it but be aware that this can be a very, very hard drinking affair with many people blasted out of their minds. Although people are dressed with a high level of refinement, don't expect a refined and reserved atmosphere. I've never seen any trouble or any reason for concern with this, just pointing it out so you know what to expect. Trust me, during the season on the train I often see the 'before' and 'after' - 'before' you have very beautiful people dressed to the nines and behaving graciously. 'After' you often see very tousled and sometimes vomit encrusted, expensive vestments. Sadly with the women, sometimes their fine attire is struggling to retain their owner's modesty on the journey home. People struggling to maintain their composure and dignity snatched away by too much Pimms.

That aside, I think that a 16 year old would 'get' that it's a different and special thing...especially a girl if she likes fashion as janisj alludes. I don't know the different enclosures or the levels of exclusivity in each but I would not say that the event overall is particularly 'exclusive' overall.

Royal Ascot is not Royal Ascot unless you've seen at least one person hurling in the corner or passed out completely! I'm not joking.

I'd consider doing Oxford over the Cotswolds for the 16-yr-old at least. Some say Cotswold is one of most overblown 'cool' places anywhere - I will not weigh in on that but think Oxford and it great university 'colleges' would be more interesting to her at least.

From your list, she would probably enjoy Camden Market. You're not a real teenager if you don't like Camden Market - especially for a girl. Plan ahead so that you head straight into more interesting parts rather than wasting a lot of time and footsteps in some of the less interesting market areas closer to the Tube station. Overall it's acres of market areas. The old horse hospital/Stables Market is generally the more interesting of the areas and there are shops all around as you probably know. Shops like Cyberdog might interest her if she's a bit 'alternative'. It can be pretty full-on so plan accordingly for the time required. It really can be a good part of a day when you factor in getting there and you'll want (or need) to take breaks - e.g. extract yourself from the madness and get a drink and relax, get lunch, etc. After that visit, you'll likely have less energy for and willingness to jump right to another taxing activity.
It depends on her (and your) preferences - Covent Garden is more upscale and refined and mainly shops, Camden more gritty and more oriented to stalls although there are loads of shops too. Camden will have a lot of interesting/stylish souvenirs very cheap. I would probably do both if I were you.